Valve released the September 2026 Steam Hardware Survey, showing how PC gamers are actually configuring their machines. The data reveals a tight race between Intel and AMD for CPU dominance, while NVIDIA's latest mid-range card secures the top GPU spot. These trends help developers optimize software for prevalent hardware and assist buyers in understanding the current market baseline.
Intel leads CPU share while Windows maintains 95% dominance
The survey covers the Steam platform, which remains the primary distribution hub for PC gaming. Windows holds a commanding 95.05% share of the operating system market, leaving little room for alternatives. English is the most used language at 34.20%, followed closely by Simplified Chinese at 31.39%.
- Most Popular GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (6.15%)
- Most Popular CPU Vendor: Intel (51.63%) vs AMD (48.37%)
- Most Popular OS: Windows (95.05%)
- Most Popular Language: English (34.20%)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 leads the GPU rankings with a 6.15% market share. The card leads other options as gamers increasingly adopt newer graphics hardware. On the processor side, Intel captures 51.63% of the market while AMD holds 48.37%. The split indicates a near-even divide in CPU preferences among Steam users.
Resolution preferences remain anchored at 1920×1080, which accounts for 47.91% of all users. This confirms that Full HD is still the standard for the majority of the installed base. Russian localization also appears in the top three languages at 9.05%, highlighting its continued importance in the region.
We have tracked these monthly reports closely, including our earlier coverage on Steam July 2026 where we noted the shift toward 16GB VRAM GPUs. September data indicates steady adoption of modern components with no major changes in resolution preferences. Gamers and developers can use these figures to establish realistic performance expectations.
Source: IXBT
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